Table



Sept. 9, 1941. E. J. DAVIS ET AL TABLE Filed March 5, 1940 g /I/M/ 1 4w. 5

Patented Sept. 9, 1941 OFFICE TABLE- Evan J. Davis and Bertha J. Davis, Yakima,

Wash

Application March 5, 1940, Serial No. 322,372

Claims.

Our invention relates to tables, and more particularly to tables of the lap type which may be positioned over the lap of a person sitting in a chair or sitting in bed.

One object of our invention is to provide an improved means for supporting a book or other reading matter in a convenient position, for a reader sitting in a chair, so that the reader may be relieved of the strain of holding the book in reading position and be thereby enabled to read with greater relaxation and comfort.

Another object of our invention is to provide a table of the character referred to that can readily be assembled and disassembled, and wherein no hooks or fastening devices are required other than those formed integrally with the table elements.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the table in connection with a chair seat; Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 each shows one of the fiVe component parts of the table structure of Fig. 1, in disassembled relation.

The structure can be composed of wood, sheet metal, or other suitable material, and comprises a table top 3; a pair of end members 4 that function as legs; a lap-engaging bar 5 that serves also as a tie strip, and a stop member 6. The table top 3 is provided with hook portions 1 which, when the parts are in assembled position, will overlie the outer sides of the members 4 and hold such members against the ends of the board 3. The end members 4 are slot ted at 8 for engagement with the edges of the board 3, at points behind the hooks 1, to there- 'by afford vertical support for the forward edge of the table top 3. 4 is provided with a slot 8 to receive ears In that are formed on the ends of the top 3. When the parts are in assembled position, the ears H) are in the rearward ends of the slots 9 and the table top thereby held against vertical movement in either direction relative to the end members 4. Portions of the end members 4 extend above the plane of the table top, as indicated at H. The end members 4 function as legs for supporting the table top upon a chair seat or the like.

The lap-engaging bar is slotted at [2 and has interfitting engagement with slots l3 formed in the rear edges of the end members 4 to effect interlocking in such manner that the end members are held against relative spreading at their rear edges. The walls of the slots l3 prevent tilting of the lap bar 5 relative to the Each of the end members leg members 4. The bar 5 will rest upon the legs or lap of a sitting person, and is preferably of such short vertical dimension relative to the members 4 that the table top is supported in an inclined position.

The rear edge of the table is recessed at l5, the recess being extended laterally to form a pair of slots l6 and a pair of slots IT. The stop 6 serves to hold a book or paper from sliding off the table top, and is in turn held in place on the table by its downwardly-extending flange or tongue [8 that will fit within the pair of slots IE or the slots IT, to thereby hold the book at a desired location upon the table. Slot I9 is a hand hole for carrying the table.

It will be noted that all of the slots or recesses are open at one side or end, thus not only facilitating the manufacture of the parts, especially if they are made of wood, but also making it easy to assemble and disassemble the table parts.

We claim as our invention:

1. A lap table comprising a top, downwardlyextending end members having tongue and slot connection With the top at their forward edges, to prevent relatively vertical and lateral displacement of the top and the end members at their forward edges, means rearwardly of said connections, for vertically supporting the top on the end members, and a lap-engaging strip having slots in its ends, for receiving the rear edges of said end members, to prevent spreading thereof, the lower extremities of the end members being of reduced width so that they will tilt on a supporting surface.

2. A lap table comprising a top, downwardlyextending end members having tongue and slot connection with the top at their forward edges, to prevent relatively vertical and lateral displacement of the top and the end members at their forward edges, means rearwardly of said connect-ions, for supporting the top against vertical displacement relative to the end members, and a lap-engaging strip having slots in its ends, for receiving the rear edges of said end members, to prevent spreading thereof, and the rear edges of the end members having slots to receive the said strip and prevent tilting thereof relative to the end members, the lower extremities of the end members being of reduced width so that they willtilt on a supporting surface.

3. A lap table comprising a top, downwardlyextending end members of generally triangular form having tongue and slot connection with the top, at their forward edges, to prevent relatively vertical and lateral displacement of the top and the end members at their forward edges,

clined position.

4. A lap table comprisingga top, downwardly extending end members having tongue and slot connection with the top at their forward edges, 1

supporting surface, and the lap-engaging strip being of short vertical dimension relative to the end members.

' 5. A lap table comprising a top, downwardlyextending end members of generally triangular form having tongue and slot connection with the 7 top, at their forward edges, to prevent relatively vertical and lateral displacement of the top and the end members at their forward edges, means rearwardly of said connections, for vertically supporting the top on the end members, and means detachably connecting the rear edges of said end members, to hold them against spreading, each end member being so positioned to prevent relatively vertical and lateraldisplacement of the top and the end members at their forward edges, means rearwardly of said con nections, for vertically supporting the top on the end members, and a lap-engaging strip having slots. in its ends, for receiving the rear edges of said end members to prevent spreading thereof, the lower extremities of the end members be ngof reduced width so they will tilt on a that one of its corners may rest upon a chair seat or the like and permit the rear edge of the table to be supported by the legs of a sitter,

with the table top in 'a forwardly and upwardly inclined position, and with said corners more nearly in vertical alignment with the front edge of the table than with the rear edge thereof.

EVAN J. DAVIS. V BERTHA J. DAVIS. 

